JPH0413546A - Line balance management device on production line - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve productivity by reading out an additional operation for a preceding operator from an additional operation storage means, and directing the preceding operator to perform the read-out operation which can be concurrently performed by the preceding operator, and allotted to other operator. CONSTITUTION:The operation instruction processing routine usually gives instruction for operation in each operator's charge to each operator so that the number of operation which each operator is taking, is fixed, and when a preceding operator whose operation is substantially advanced is detected, the routine directs the preceding operator to accept an operation except the operation in his charge so that the line balance is kept favorable. The instruction reference processing routine searches for concrete instructions for operation when the above operation instruction processing routine gives instructions for operation, while making certain whether the operation can be performed or not by the operator as instructed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention relates to a line balance management device in a production line.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, for example, a hanger on which a sewn item is suspended is controlled to be conveyed from one work station to the next using a hanger conveyor, and workers perform various tasks at each work station to create clothes, shoes, etc. There is a sewing line where production is divided.

On this type of sewing line, various tasks related to the large number of sewing items input to the line are divided based on the division of labor.
Assigned and instructed to each worker.

Instructions for the assigned work are given to the workers in the order of their starting order, taking into account the production efficiency of the sewing product.

Therefore, if each worker worked according to the instructions, the sewing product could be completed in a predetermined order.

In the second sewing line, one worker's work may be delayed or one worker's work may progress due to unpredictable circumstances such as thread breakage. If this problem is left unaddressed, the difference in the number of tasks handled by each worker will widen (the f-line balance will become more imbalanced, leading to a decline in production efficiency. The team leader uses his experience and intuition to discover line imbalances early on,
The work handled by each worker is compared, and instructions are given to the preceding worker who has completed the work in advance, and to the work handled by another worker that can be taken over. Therefore, even if the line balance was disrupted, it was possible to restore it. [Problem to be solved by the invention] However, unlike in the past, when the team leader discovered the line imbalance, each worker had to take charge of the task. The line balance management device for the production line of the present invention has the problem that if the system investigates the situation and instructs the transfer of work, it will take a long time to recover and it will not be possible to prevent a decline in production efficiency due to line imbalance. The purpose is to solve the above problems, manage the production line so as to maintain an appropriate line balance, and improve production efficiency.

R Cloth Side Configuration [Means for Solving the Problem] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the line balance management device for a production line according to the present invention can perform various operations necessary for processing workpieces input into the production line. In a production line, in which each worker is assigned and instructed to one job based on a preset work assignment, and each worker executes the instructed work to process the workpiece, Concurrent work storage means that stores concurrent work that can be performed concurrently; and preceding worker detection means that detects the color of a preceding worker whose work progress is ahead of other workers and whose number of unworked tasks is less than a predetermined threshold; When the preceding worker detecting means detects the preceding worker, it reads the concurrently possible work of the preceding worker from the concurrently possible work storage means, and determines whether the concurrently possible work that has been read out is assigned to another worker. The substitute image includes a work transfer instructing means for transferring and instructing the preceding worker to perform the work that has been done.

[Operation] In the line balance management device for a production line of the present invention, while each worker executes the instructed work based on the work assignment and processes the workpiece, the preceding worker search means searches for each worker. The number of unworked tasks is monitored, and a preceding worker whose work progress is ahead of other workers because the number of unworked tasks is less than a predetermined threshold value is detected. When the preceding worker detecting means detects the preceding worker, the work transfer instruction means reads out the concurrently possible work of the preceding worker from the concurrently possible work storage means, and determines which concurrently possible work is to be assigned to another worker. The work that
Transfer and give instructions to the preceding worker.

In this way, the preceding worker takes over the work of other workers, so that the slowness of each worker's work is averaged out, and a good line balance is maintained.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the line balance management device in a production line according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof.

The line balance management device includes a host computer 1, a plurality of work station terminals (hereinafter referred to as WST) 3, a graphic station terminal (hereinafter referred to as GST) 4, a punonta 5, and a transport device 6. These are connected to enable data communication via LAN.

host computer] includes an electronic control device 7 and a CRT 9
, an external storage device], and a keyboard 13.

The electronic control device 71 includes a well-known CPU 7a, RAM 7b, and ROM 7c configured as an arithmetic and logic circuit, an input/output interface 7d, and a bus 7e that interconnects these.

WST3[i This is a terminal computer placed one at a time at each work station described below. As shown in FIG. 2(B), a start switch 3a, an end switch 3b,
and a display 3e. When the WST 311 start switch 3a and end switch 3b are operated, a work start signal or a work end signal is output to the host computer 1 by executing a predetermined program. Display 3
The work instructions from the host computer 1 are displayed on e.

GST4 is WS, as shown in Figure 2 (A).
It is installed beside T3. Although not shown, GST4
is installed beside each WST3.

It consists of a conveyance device 6 (hanger conveyor) 5 and a conveyor drive device 17.

Prior to explaining the conveyance device 6, an outline of the sewing line will first be explained. Sewing line has multiple work stations S
Equipped with Depending on the type of work, each work station S has a loading station St for inputting sewing products, a sewing station sh for performing various sewing operations, a completion station Sk for transporting finished products, and a station for temporarily transporting suspended or discontinued products. It is distinguished into an interruption/cancellation station Se, etc. It should be noted that each work station S is assigned an independent station number for control purposes. For example, sewing station S
h is No, 001 to 011, input station St is N
Each work station is identified by its station number, such as No. o, 012 and No. 013 for the completed station Sk.

The hanger conveyor 15 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No.
No. 191612, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-193129, Japanese Patent Application No. 193129, Japanese Patent Application No. 193129
- As described in No. 196362, these work stations S are connected to each other, and a conveyor is used to receive and pass the hanger on which the sewing product is hung from one work station to another, and each work station 3 The distributed portion placed near the device 15a, and the distributed portion placed near the device 15a.
A set of two intermediate rails 15b are provided between the intermediate rails 15b, and each branching rail 15c is branched from the device 15a toward each work station S.

The device 15a distributes the portion to the intermediate rail 15b or the branch rail 15 based on the control signal from the conveyor drive device 17.
Take the hanger from c, rotate it by a predetermined angle, and pass the hanger to another intermediate rail 15b or branch rail 15c I:. The intermediate rail 15b always conveys the hanger in one direction (the direction of arrow A), and in the upstream portion of the conveyance direction, the hanger is transferred to the device 15a. The branch rail 15c[;i also always transports hangers in one direction (direction of arrow B), receives the hangers from the device 15a for distribution, carries them to the work station S, and distributes the hangers after work to the device 15.
Give it to a.

Further, in this hanger conveyor 15, a code mark (not shown) in which a hanger number for identification is encoded is attached to each hanger on the conveyed side.

Correspondingly, a hanger detection device 15d that reads the code mark is provided in front of the device 15a to distribute the downstream portion of each intermediate rail 15b.Therefore, based on the signal of this hanger detection device 15d, each The location of the hanger is detected.

The conveyor drive device 17 (the hanger conveyor) 5 is driven according to the control signal from the host computer 1.For example, the location of each hanger is determined by the hanger detection device 1.
5d, the conveyor drive device 17 conveys each hanger from its location to the destination work station while rotating the device 15a by a predetermined angle for each distribution.

In addition, after the hanger has been carried into work station S (2), when the instructed work is completed, the end switch 3 of WST3 is
When b is pressed, the work end signal is sent to the host computer]
is output to. Then, based on a control signal output from the host computer in response to the work completion signal, the conveyor control device 17 transports the hanger on which the sewing item is hung to another work station S, and starts the next processing. have someone do it.

This conveyance process is repeated until the loading station S
The sewing material inputted from t is transported to each sewing station sh in a predetermined order and undergoes various processing, and when all processes are completed, the sewing material is completed.

The completed sewn product is transferred to the carry-out rail 15e and carried out to the completion station Sk.

Next, the database stored in the external storage device of the host computer will be explained based on FIG. 3.

The database includes an ordered product table, a process organization table,
It is constructed from a composition table, an intra-composition process table, a process related table, a station table, and an operator table.

As illustrated in FIG. 3(A), the ordered product table summarizes fir for each production number, order number, product name, design code, size, color, ordered quantity, delivery date, and production order.

The production numbers in the table indicate the crystal form of the product, identified by design, color, and size. The order number is a number associated with the order slip, and identifies, for example, the customer who placed the order. The product name indicates the name of the ordered product. The design code indicates the design of the ordered product. Size indicates the size of the ordered product, and Color indicates its color. Order quantity (Yo) Indicates the number of orders for the same product type. Production order is the order in which manufacturing work begins, and is determined by taking into account delivery dates, order quantities, etc.

Of the above data, the production number, order number, product name, design code, size, color, order quantity, and delivery date are written every time an order is received. The production order is rewritten as appropriate in consideration of the production efficiency of the ordered products as a whole. The rewriting method does not matter. For example, key personnel may be sufficient. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the data is automatically rewritten using a predetermined program based on order data received through data communication.

As illustrated in FIG. 3(B), in the process organization table, operators who can work and stations which can work are arranged side by side for each organization code. A process organization table is designed in advance for each crystal type such as a blouse, and process organization tables for a large number of crystal types are stored in advance in an external storage device.

The knitting code in the table specifies "knitting," which is a higher-level process that groups a large number of processes necessary for manufacturing one product. The grouping is organized into multiple processes that can be performed successively at individual work stations. The number of this knitting code orders the above knitting, and the larger the number, the later the process is.

The operator who can work indicates a worker who has the ability to perform the process in the composition specified by each composition code. The workable station indicates a work station where the process within the composition specified by each composition code is possible. A plurality of these workable operators and workable stations are arranged side by side and grouped together in each organization code, and their priority is higher toward the left side of the drawing.

It should be noted that the priority order mentioned here indicates that the higher the priority order is, the 9th work station is the main worker in charge. For example, in the example (Dai formation code), the operator with the highest priority among the available operators is the operator with operator number "]", and the highest priority among the available stations is the station with station number "1". In other words, the operator in charge of the formation related to the formation code] is the operator number ``1'', and the work station is the station number []
”. In addition, workers who can be transferred must have an operator number "
2'', the work station is station number ``2''. Note that the operator number rooIJ in the figure is indicated by "]"; in the embodiment, the upper digits of the number rQJ will be omitted in the explanation.

Although not shown, the external storage device 11 stores a large number of process analysis tables designed in advance for each crystal type in correspondence with this process organization table. A process analysis table describes each individual process required to manufacture a single product.
It is a summary of the process code that specifies the process, the organization to which the process belongs (explained in the process organization table above), and the work station of the main person in charge. Therefore, from this process analysis table, for example, processes belonging to a predetermined organization,
It is known whether there is a process that can be performed at a predetermined work station.

As illustrated in FIG. 3(C), the organization table summarizes the abbreviation, serial number, organization code, station number, operator number, carrier number, and status code for each production number. . This organization table (many numbers are created for each table production number).

The serial numbers in the table are serial numbers that distinguish between individual products when there are multiple products of the same crystal type with the same production number. The maximum value of the sequential number is the order product table mentioned above (
This will be the same as the order quantity shown in Figure 3 (A)). The carrier number is a number that identifies a hanger whose conveyance is controlled by the hanger conveyor device 15. The code mark attached to the hanger described above indicates this carrier number. Status code (indicates the progress status (in progress, completed, etc.) of the organization work specified by the table organization code.

Therefore, from this knitting table (the work station where the knitting work specified by the upper knitting code is being carried out, the worker, the hanger on which the work to be sewn is hung, and the progress status of the work) are known. .

Note that among these data, the station number, operator number 2, and carrier number are written as soon as the work station, worker, and hanger are determined. The status code is rewritten as the work progresses. The writing/rewriting method does not matter. In the embodiment, in the work instruction processing routine (FIG. 4(A)) described later,
An example of automatically rewriting is shown below.

As illustrated in FIG. 3(D), the organizational process table includes a navy blue color, a serial number, an organization code, a process code, a process order, and a status code for each production number. Similar to the above organizational table, a large number of organizational process tables are created for each production number.

The process in the organization corresponding to the process code (or organization code) in the table is specified.The process order indicates the starting order of each process specified by the process code.

The lower the process order number, the higher the start order of the process. The status code indicates the progress status (in progress, completed, etc.) of the process specified by each process code. The status code is rewritten as the work progresses. The rewriting method does not matter.

Note that the work instruction processing routine (Fig. 4 (A)) to be described later
An example of automatically performing the rewriting is shown below.

As illustrated in FIG. 3(E), the process-related table includes:
For each process code, the process name, next process code, machine used, instruction chart code, and standard time are summarized vertically. The process related table is the process organization table (Figure 3 (B)
)) are designed in advance for each crystal type, such as a blouse, and a large number of process-related tables are stored in the external storage device 11 in advance.

The next process code in the table indicates the process in the process order next to the process specified by the process code. The machine used indicates the machine used in the process specified by the process code. The address for reading out the work instruction diagram data of each process stored in advance in the instruction diagram code 1 table external storage device 1 is specified. As shown in the GST4 display screen example in Figure 5, the work instruction diagram data includes text data of character strings that make up the screen,
It consists of image data etc. showing the details of the work in drawings. Standard time (This is the standard time required to perform work in another process. It is used for screen display as illustrated in Figure 5 (in the figure, it is displayed in the "Time" column).

As illustrated in FIG. 3(F), in the station table, operator numbers and status codes are arranged vertically for each station number.

The status code in the table indicates the operating status of the work station specified by the station number.
Indicates the status (vacant status, operating status, suspended status, etc.). Therefore, from this station table, the worker who operates each work station and the operating status of each work station are known. Note that the means for rewriting the operator number and status code does not matter. In the work instruction processing routine (FIG. 4(A)) to be described later, an example will be shown in which the rewriting is automatically performed.

As illustrated in FIG. 3(G), in the operator table, fir, operator name (kanji, English), and designated number are summarized for each operator number.

The number of instructions in the table indicates the number of tasks currently instructed to each worker. The number of tasks mentioned here refers to the organization code (
This is the number of operations in the organization unit specified by the organization table (organization table).

The number of instructions is incremented by 1 every time a work instruction is given.
Each time one task is completed, the value 1 is subtracted. Note that the means for rewriting the designated number does not matter. In the embodiment, a rewriting example is shown in which the value 1 is added to the number of instructions in a work instruction processing routine (FIG. 4(A)) to be described later.

Next, line balance management processing executed in the host computer 1 will be explained.

The line balance management process consists of a work instruction processing routine (Fig. 4 (A)) and an instruction search processing routine (Fig. 4 (B)).
).

The outline of the former work instruction processing routine is as follows. Usually, the number of tasks each worker has (instruction number)
The work instructions of the main person in charge are compared to each worker so that the line balance is constant, and if a preceding worker who has made significant progress in one task is detected, the line balance is suitable for that preceding worker. Give instructions on tasks other than those in charge.

An outline of the latter instruction search processing routine is as follows. When issuing a work instruction in the former work instruction processing routine, the specific work instruction is searched while confirming whether or not the worker to whom the instruction is compared is able to perform the work.

When the power is turned on, the CPU 7a of the host computer 1 first executes the former work instruction processing routine (FIG. 4(A)).
) and execute this repeatedly while the power is on.

When this processing routine is started, the number of Otori instructions is initially 5, which is the standard value.
Search process for workers matching fewer conditions (S100
). In this search process, the operator table (FIG. 3(G)) of the database in the external storage device 5 is referred to, and operator numbers with the instruction number smaller than the reference value 5 are searched in ascending order of operator numbers. Then, one of the lowest operator numbers matching the above conditions is searched. For example, from the operator table (Figure 3 (G)), the number of instructions is 4.
Search for operator number 3. Note that since the operator number 4 with the instruction number 2 is a large operator number, it will be searched at the next execution of the routine. The above reference value is an arbitrary value and can be set freely by the user.

Next, find a worker (operator number) that meets the above conditions.
It is determined whether or not the worker has been searched (S110), and if not, the worker search process in step]00 is repeated until the worker is searched.

As in the example of operator number 3, if a worker matching the conditions is found (S110), it is determined whether the worker is a preceding worker (S120). In this determination, it is determined whether the number of instructions from the retrieved worker is less than or equal to the value 3. The value 3 is a numerical value obtained by subtracting the tolerance value 2 from the reference value 5, and indicates that the work has significantly progressed.

For example, the worker with operator number 3 has 4 instructions, so he is not the preceding worker.On the other hand, the worker with operator number 4, who will be detected when the next routine is executed, has 2 instructions, so he is not the preceding worker. It is determined that the person is a worker.

Note that the allowable value is an arbitrary value, and can be freely set by the user.

If it is determined in step 120 that the person is not the preceding worker (
For example, in the case of operator 9 number 3), the work is progressing at a normal speed and the worker is simply asking for new instructions, so the instruction search process (Figure 4 (B)) will search for that operator number. The main task assigned to the worker is searched for (S130). This instruction search process (Figure 4 (B))
This will be explained in detail later. In the first search, the process composition table (FIG. 3(B) is one of them) is not referred to. For example, the knitting work related to knitting code 5 for which operator number 3 is mainly in charge is searched.

If no work instruction is found as a result of the search in step 130, the process returns to step OO at the beginning of this routine and repeats the above-described process.

When a work instruction is retrieved, such as in organization code 5 in the above example, the process of displaying the work instruction, etc., performed from step 250 onwards, is performed. The details will be described later.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 120 that the worker is a preceding worker (for example, in the case of operator number 4), the amount of work in progress for each worker is calculated (S150).

The amount of work in progress is equal to the current number of instructions (1) plus the number of tasks that will obviously be instructed next.

"The next task that is clearly instructed" can be obtained as follows.

First, we will start with the organization table (Figure 3) set up for each production number.
C) is a knitting code whose status code indicates "O: Not specified" for each carrier number (for each sewn item), and the status code for knitting codes with numbers lower than that knitting code is " 3: Search all organization codes that are "Completed".

In other words, a sewing item for which the next work (uninstructed) can be started is detected from among the sewing items on all hangers in the sewing line, and all knitting codes indicating the next work are searched.

Next, the process organization table provided for each crystal type (Figure 3 (B)
is one of them), and searches for the operator number of the operator (leftmost in the figure) who is in charge of organizing all the composition codes that can be started. Then, by classifying all the searched organization codes that can be started for each searched operator number and for each carrier number, the number of ``works that are clearly instructed next'' can be obtained for each worker. . Adding the number of instructions to this gives the amount of work in progress.

When the amount of work in progress for each worker is calculated as described above,
Next, the workers are arranged in descending order of the amount of work in progress, and a process of detecting late workers is performed (S160). Late workers are
The worker has a larger amount of work in progress than the value 7, which is the sum of the standard value 5 for the number of instructions and the allowable number 2. In this explanation, it is assumed that the amount of work in progress for the worker with operator number 1 is 9, and the amount of work in progress for the worker with operator number 2 is 8, and both are detected as late workers.

Subsequently, the instruction search process (FIG. 4 (Sunday)) searches for work instructions for which the late worker with the largest amount of work in progress is primarily in charge (S170). For example, by executing the above search process (S170) for [operator number],
Assume that from FIG. 3(B)), knitting with knitting codes 1 and 2 is retrieved as work that can be started at present. Note that if no late worker is detected in step 160, virtually nothing is done in the process of step 170.

Next, it is determined whether or not the preceding worker (operator number 4, step 120) can work on the retrieved work (organization codes 1, 2) (S180). From the process organization table (Figure 3 (B)), organization code].

2, it can be seen that the worker with operator number 4 is unable to perform the task.

If it is determined that the work is impossible (S180), then
It is determined whether there are other late workers (step 5190), and if there are other late workers, the process returns to step 170 to search for work instructions for which the late worker is the main person in charge. In the example of the late worker, in this second process, the late worker with the second largest amount of work in progress, the worker with operator number 2, is searched. Assume that from the process organization table (FIG. 3(B)), jobs with organization codes 3 and 4 for which the worker with operator number 2 is primarily in charge are retrieved.

Thereafter, it is determined whether the work of the searched composition code is possible work of the preceding worker (S180).

In this case, it can be seen from the process organization table (FIG. 3(B)) that the work with organization codes 3 and 4 can be performed by the operator number 4.

As in this example, if it is determined that a work instruction that the preceding worker can work on, that is, a work instruction that can be transferred, has been retrieved (S180), the process moves to step 250, which will be described later.
Display processing of the work instructions is performed.

On the other hand, if the preceding worker's workable work instruction is not retrieved from the work instructions of any of the late workers (5170, 780, 790), the process moves to step 200.

In step 200 (instruction search processing (described later) (see FIG. 4),
According to B)), first, the work for which the preceding worker is primarily in charge is searched. This process is the same as the process at step 130. For example (play) For the worker with operator number 4,
Assume that work with organization code 8 is retrieved from the process organization table (FIG. 3(B)).

Furthermore, a process with a high process rank is searched among a plurality of processes in the composition code that follows the composition code searched in step 200 (S210). For example, among a plurality of processes in knitting of knitting need 9 that follows knitting code 8, the process code with the highest process order is searched. This search is performed, for example, with reference to the internal process table (FIG. 3(F) is one of them).

Next, it is determined whether the work of the searched process code can be performed continuously (S220). In the above example, among the processes in the searched organization code 9, the process with the highest process rank is
It is determined whether or not continuous work is possible at the work station where the work of organization code 8 is performed. That is, by referring to the process analysis table (not shown; explained following the process composition table) stored in the external storage device], the work station with the process code searched in step 210 is searched, and this work station is It is determined whether or not is the same as the work station with composition code 8. Assume that it is determined that the process with the highest process order among the processes with composition code 9 can be worked continuously at the work station with composition code 8.

If it is determined in step 220 that the work can be performed continuously, the process returns to step 2] 0, searches for the process with the next process order, and determines whether or not the process can be performed continuously at the same work station. (S220) is performed.

In this way, the next process search process (S210) and the determination as to whether or not continuous work is possible (S220) are repeated, and when all the processes that can be worked continuously are searched, this next process (organized) that can be worked continuously is Part of the process of code 9), step 200
A work instruction is created that is added to the work searched for (organization code 8) (S230). Then, the process moves to step 250, and a display process for instructing the work after the addition is performed.

As explained above, ■ When a work instruction is simply searched for a worker who has progressed in the work (S130, 140), ■ If the preceding worker is the main person in charge of the delayed worker,
When transferable work is searched (S170.180)
, ■ A preceding worker is searched, but no work that can be transferred from the late worker is found, or there is no late worker, and a work instruction is created that adds the next process to the main work of the preceding worker. If so (8200 to 5230), the process of displaying work instructions from step 250 onwards is performed.

In step 250, each work instruction of the above ■, ■, ■,
The worker whose operator number he or she wishes to instruct performs a process of transmitting information to WST3 of the work station where he or she is working. The transmitting WST3 uses the station table (Figure 3 (
E)).

Next, it is determined whether the work instruction involves movement of the work station (S260), and the work instruction is sent to the destination WST3 (S270). , the process of step 270 is skipped.In addition, when movement is necessary, in the process of step 250,
An instruction is sent to display the destination station number.

When the work instruction is sent in this way, it is sent to the next (conveyor control device) 7 (8280).In other words, the work (identified by the formation code) is determined from the formation table (Fig. 3 (C)). The carrier number to be instructed is searched, and an instruction to transport the hanger with that carrier number to the work station S where the work is to be performed is transmitted to the conveyor control device 17.

Next, the screen data is sent to the GST4 (partially shown) of the work station where the work is performed (S290)
. As a result, the screen illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed on the GST 4 of the work station where the work is performed.

Finally, after performing a process (S300) to rewrite data related to the instructed work, the process returns to the beginning of this routine and repeats the above process.

The related data rewritten in step 300 are the station number, operator number, and status code in the organization table (FIG. 3(C)). The state of the rewriting is shown in FIGS. 3(cl) to C4). The station number and operator number of the instructed work are entered. The status code is rewritten from "0: Not instructed" to "]: Instructed." Further, in the in-composition process table (FIG. 3(D)), the status code for the instructed work is rewritten to "Instructing".

Furthermore, the status code in the station table (FIG. 3(F)) is rewritten to "Instructing". In addition, the number of instructions in the operator table (FIG. 3(G)) is rewritten. The value 1 is added to the designated number.

Next, the instruction search processing routine will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG. 4(B). This routine is a subroutine that is executed in step 70 and step 200 of the work order processing routine described above.For convenience of understanding, in the case of operator number 3 searched in step 130 (see above) Case ①) will be explained as an example.

When this process starts, first, a production number with a high production order is searched (S400). Example (order product table (
From FIG. 3(A)), production number 2 (blouse) is retrieved.

Next, from the process organization table (FIG. 3(B)) related to the searched production number 2, the organization code of the main person assigned to operator number 3 is searched (S4] 0). Formation code 5
．． 7 is searched.

Next, from the composition table of production number 2 searched in step 400 (FIG. 3 (C)), an incomplete task related to the composition code 5.7 searched in step 4]0 is searched. (S 420).

For example, from the organization table in Figure 3 (C), serial number 25
Work related to the 2 formation code 5, work related to the serial number 25° formation code 7, work related to the serial number 262 formation code 5, etc. are searched.

Next Step 430 and subsequent steps confirm whether or not these searched tasks can be started because the previous process has already been completed.

First, with reference to the intra-composition process table (FIG. 3 (D)) related to the production number 2 searched in step 400, among the plurality of processes in the composition with the production code 5 searched in step 420, uncompleted Search for the process code of the operation (S
430). For example, the process code C5 of the work with serial number 251 and organization code 5 is searched.

After this, from the process related table (FIG. 3 (G)) regarding production number 2 searched in step 400, the next process code,
A process code whose code is the process code C5 searched above is searched for (S440). Process code C4 is searched.

Next, search for the degree of completion of the task for the searched process code C4 from the in-organization process table (Figure 3 (D)) S450
), it is determined whether all are completed (8460). In other words,
In the in-organization process table (Figure 3 (D)), the status code of the work specified by process code C4 is all “
3: Check to see if it indicates "Completed."

If it is determined that all of the steps have been completed (S460), it is determined that the previous process has already been completed, so next, the work searched in step 420, that is, production number 2, serial number 25, is completed.
, it is determined whether the worker with operator number 3 is available for the work of composition code 5 (S 470).In the process organization chart for production number 2 (Figure 3 (B)), Looking at the row, the stations available for work are station numbers 3, 5, and 9. In addition, from the station table (Figure 3 (F)), the operator with operator number 3 is currently working at work station 3. , you can see that you can work without moving.

As a result, this work, the work with production number 2, serial number 25, and composition code 5, is selected as the work instruction (S 480
). When a work instruction is selected, as described above, the work instruction (2) is subjected to necessary display processing, etc. in the processing from step 250 onwards in the work instruction processing routine (FIG. 4(A)).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 460 that the previous process has not been completed, the work related to production number 2, serial number 25, and composition code 5 cannot be performed, so whether there is another work process to investigate next. (S 490). In this example (table), in step 420, the same production number 2, serial number 25
Therefore, it is determined that there is a work process with composition code 7.

If there is a formation code 7 that is secretly investigated like this (S 4
90), returns to step 430, repeats the above-mentioned process, and checks whether or not processes prior to composition code 7 have been completed (S440, 450, 460).

If the previous process has been completed, its production number 2, serial number 25,
It is determined whether or not the worker with operator number 3 can work on the work associated with composition code 7 (5470), and if the work can be done, the work is selected as a work instruction (S480).

On the other hand, production number 2 (
For any of these operations, if it is determined that the previous process has not been completed (S460) or that the worker is not available for the work (S470), there is no process to investigate in production number 2. (S490) Next, it is determined whether there is another production number to be checked (S500).

If there is another production number to investigate (S 500), return to the beginning of this routine and search for work instructions as described above for production number 3 (see the ordered product table), which has the second production order (i). If there is no other production number to investigate (s s o o), the instruction selection impossible process (S 51
0) and ends this routine. Various types of processing can be considered as the instruction selection disabling process, such as a process for displaying that instruction selection is not possible.

In addition, ■ If the preceding worker is searched, the above-mentioned instruction search process (Figure 4 (B)) will be used to find out the detailed work of the delayed worker (operator number in the example), 2). The search is made as in the case of operator number 3. Then, in the work instruction process (FIG. 4(A)), as described above, it is determined whether or not the preceding worker is able to perform the main task of the delayed worker (S180), and the possible task is assigned to the preceding worker. Transfer instructions are given to the worker.

In addition, ■ A preceding worker was searched, but no work that could be transferred from the late worker was found, or there was no late worker, and a work instruction that added the next process to the main work of the preceding worker was sent. If so, the main work in charge is searched, as in the example of operator number 3 in (2) above.

According to the line balance management device 2 of the embodiment described above, when a preceding worker is detected, the work of the late worker is transferred and instructed (in the case of ■), or more work than usual is instructed. (In the case of ■), the slow speed of each worker's work is averaged out, the line balance can be maintained well, and production efficiency can be improved, which is an excellent effect.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments in any way, and it goes without saying that it can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the configuration may be such that no movement instructions for the work station are given.In the embodiment,
As an example, one sewing line from input station St to completion station Sk is shown, and this sewing line includes an ordered product table (Fig. 3 (A)), a station table (Fig. 3 (F)), and an operator table (Fig. 3 (F)). Although the configuration in which one table (FIG. 3(G)) is prepared has been described, even if there are a plurality of sewing lines, it is sufficient to have one table each of these three tables.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, according to the line balance management device for a production line of the present invention, if there is a preceding worker, the worker can transfer and instruct the work of another worker and have the worker take over the work. The slow speed of each worker's work is averaged out, line balance can be maintained well, and production efficiency can be improved (two excellent effects).

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 (A) is a block diagram of a line balance management device in a production line that is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (B)
are perspective views of WST, Figures 3 (A), (B), (
CI), (C2), (C3). (c4), (D), (E), (F),
(G) is an explanatory diagram illustrating various tables stored in an external storage device, Figures 4 (A) and (B) are flowcharts illustrating line balance management processing executed in the host computer, and Figure 5 is a display. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen. 1...Host computer 3...Work station terminal 6-...Transport device 7...Electronic control device 15...Hanger conveyor 17...Conveyor control device (WST)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Various operations necessary for processing workpieces input into a production line are allocated and instructed to each worker based on preset work assignments, and each worker is In the production line that processes the workpiece by executing the work that each worker can perform concurrently, a concurrent work storage means stores the concurrently possible work of each worker; a preceding worker detecting means for detecting a preceding worker who precedes other workers; and when the preceding worker detecting means detects the preceding worker, the concurrently serving work of the preceding worker is stored from the concurrently possible work storage means; A production line characterized by comprising: a work transfer instruction means for reading possible work and transferring and instructing the preceding worker to perform the read work that can be concurrently performed and assigned to another worker. Line balance management device.